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Chelsea have started the 2024/25 Premier League season very well and despite a disappointing draw with Nottingham Forest before the international break, there is still very much a feel-good factor at Stamford Bridge.

After seven league games, the Blues are sitting pretty in fourth-place in the table. Only last season's top three of Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal have more points than Enzo Maresca's team, with Aston Villa below on goal difference.

Maresca has impressed during his first seven matches in charge of a Premier League side, with the Italian already implementing a clear style of play and ideology onto his newly-inherited squad of players. While things are far from perfect - something Maresca has pointed out at virtually every press conference - there are clear signs of improvement.

The progress has been helped massively by four standout performers within the Chelsea squad. Four players you can make an argument for being 'undroppable' at the moment.

The first, let's start with the easiest one, is Cole Palmer. In the opening seven matches of the top-flight campaign, the 22-year-old has been directly involved in 11 goals. Eleven.

Six goals scored, of course including thatfour-goal haul he bagged against Brighton last month, and five assists, including one to set up Noni Madueke to level the match against Nottingham Forest before the international break. Many questioned whether Palmer would be a one-season wonder for Chelsea after last campaign's heroics but he is well on track to replicate what looked to be unrepeatable.

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Palmer was used on the right wing against Manchester City in the opening game of the season and struggled to get too involved in the action. Many were concerned that perhaps Maresca's style would not suit the England international but ever since, really, he has been used in a free role in the middle and has somehow took his game to another level.

One that is perhaps more surprising, but equally not if you watched the conclusion of the 2023/24 campaign, is Marc Cucurella. The Spain international shone towards the end of last season for the Blues under Mauricio Pochettino with the Argentine coach deploying the left-back in an inverted role that seemed to really suit him.

Under Maresca, Cucurella has been used in the same role, as well as various others. But whatever they have been, the 26-year-old has flourished this term. Already, after just a few months of working with the Spaniard, who played a key role in his country winning the Euros over the summer, Maresca knows the significance of Cucurella in his setup.

Speaking ahead of the visit of Brighton last month, the Chelsea head coach said: "Marc is very important. Marc has something you sometimes struggle to find in players. Marc is good.

"He is also making good the players around him because he is a guy that is always talking, always demanding and when you have five, six or seven players like Marc, always taking and improving the other players, it is something important. I am very happy with Marc."

Moises Caicedo is another one that has been excellent this term and has almost given himself 'undroppable' status. He showed glimpses last season, there is no doubt about that, after a slow start to life at Stamford Bridge but it seems like we are really getting to see the best version of the Ecuador international this time around.

There is plenty of improvement, particularly while in possession as Maresca pointed out recently, for Caicedo to work on but his performances thus far this term have been very impressive. While there are doubts over Enzo Fernandez next to him, the same cannot be said about Caicedo - who continues to go from strength to strength in a Chelsea shirt.

Speaking of, Levi Colwill is doing exactly the same. After a frustrating season on a personal note for the England defender last time around, this one has started tremendously for the Cobham graduate.

Colwill has made himself the undroppable figure at the heart of the Chelsea defence. It is now 'Colwill and x' when talking about who will start at centre-back under Maresca. That is perhaps the biggest compliment you can pay him.

There have been some colossal performances from Colwill this season already in terms of his defending. He has made some crucial blocks, interceptions and/or tackles at integral times for the Blues. As well as this, Maresca's possession-based style of play suits him down to a tee.

Only six players have made more passes than Colwill so far this season - and none of them play for Chelsea. He is quickly transforming into the centre-back many predicted he would when he spent the 2022/23 season on loan down at Brighton.

Chelsea turned down a huge offer from a top European club in the summer for Colwill, football.london understands. And to say their decision has been vindicated would be a bit of an understatement.